Hello world. Hello travelers.
I am a Japanese born and grew up in Tokyo.
The number of foreigners coming to Japan is increasing every year, and there are many travelers who are very knowledgeable about Japan and speak Japanese very well,
However, I felt that it is difficult for them to experience cultures other than those that are well-known even in other countries.
Sushi, tempura, yakitori, yakisoba, and okonomiyaki are delicious, but I am sure there is more food that everyone will like.
I created this site to let people know that there are many cool and cute things besides kabuki and otaku culture.
Do you know “IKI”?
I want to share the “IKI” of Japan’s delicious food and culture on this site.
What is “IKI”?
Generally, it means “cool” in the Tokyo area.
The opposite word is “YABO (It means nogure)” .
But simply being cool is not enough to be “IKI”.
It is of course necessary to have a sharp, defined look, but it must also be lean (not flashy or too simple) and have a sense of sexiness.
For example, this is “IKI”.
Kabuki Ukiyoe by Sharaku
This is also “IKI”.
Wagara
This could also be called “IKI”.
Humphrey Bogart
Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/humprye-bogart-hero-warrior-honest-1264672/
By the way, the name of this site, “koiki” means “a little “IKI”,
The nuance is that if anyone said “she’s a koiki”,
It means, She’s not gorgeous, but she’s kind of cool and good-looking.
The word “IKI” is not only used for fashion and patterns.
It is also used for the content of words and gestures.
If you say something unkind, you will be chided, “Don’t be so YABO”.
So, yes, “IKI” is difficult. It is difficult to be “IKI”.
If you find yourself in the streets of Tokyo and think The whole place is well composed, sexy, and cool!, Please try to say, “IKI da! (It means “that’s IKI!”)”
I’m sure some Japanese will turn around and look at you with a their face look of “What?!”
If you want to see a period drama that is full of sophistication, this is the one.
If you like Samurai, you should watch it.
Onihei Hankacho
鬼平犯科帳
https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/video/detail/B0BY3WLFT7/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
This is a story about a real-life chief of SWAT in edo era, named Heizo Hasegawa.
He was famous for his harsh control, so he was called “ONI” (ogre).
“ONI” and “Hei”zo becomes “Onihei”.
This nickname is also “IKI”.
Finally.
At the beginning of this article, I explained that I opened this blog to introduce people to fascinating aspects of Japanese culture other than the majors.
But in fact, there is another purpose.
After the defeat in the Pacific War, Japan went through a period of rapid economic growth, a bubble economy, and is now in a long period of stagnation.
In the process, we have thrown away many good old things.
New technology and culture should be adopted by all means, but this does not mean that the old must be discarded.
We have misunderstood this and have lost many things that can never be recovered.
I know that my own father and mothers made a desperate effort to make our lives a little better, and I am grateful for their efforts.
But a mistake is a mistake.
And they are still being lost. People now feel a sense of crisis, but now the economy that supports it is out of control and the population is declining, making it impossible to carry on the tradition.
So, here we are. If you foreigners know the real thing, taste it, and think it is “IKI,” we would like you to join us in helping to carry on the tradition.
This is my other motivation for opening this blog.
If anyone shares my feelings, I would be very happy. Hopefully, the wonderful culture of thousands of years will remain in the future.
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